Ohio Senate
The Ohio Senate is the upper house of the Ohio General Assembly. The State Senate, which meets in the Ohio Statehouse in Columbus, first convened in 1803. Senators are elected for four year terms, staggered every two years such that half of the seats are contested at each election.[1] Even numbered seats and odd numbered seats are contested in separate election years. The president of the Ohio Senate presides over the body when in session, and is currently Matt Huffman.
Ohio Senate | |
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135th Ohio General Assembly | |
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Type | |
Type | |
Term limits | 2 terms (8 years) |
History | |
New session started | January 3, 2023 |
Leadership | |
President | Matt Huffman (R) since January 4, 2021 |
President pro tempore | Kirk Schuring (R) since January 3, 2023 |
Majority Leader | Rob McColley (R) since January 3, 2023 |
Minority Leader | Nickie Antonio (D) since January 3, 2023 |
Structure | |
Seats | 33 |
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Political groups | Majority
Minority
|
Length of term | 4 years |
Authority | Article II, Ohio Constitution |
Salary | $68,674/year |
Elections | |
Last election | November 8, 2022 (17 seats) |
Next election | November 5, 2024 (16 seats) |
Meeting place | |
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Senate Chamber Ohio Statehouse Columbus, Ohio | |
Website | |
ohiosenate |
Currently, the Senate consists of 26 Republicans and 7 Democrats, with the Republicans controlling three more seats than the 22 required for a supermajority vote. Senators are limited to two consecutive terms. Each senator represents approximately 349,000 Ohioans, and each Senate district encompasses three corresponding Ohio House of Representatives districts.
Composition
- 135th General Assembly (2022-2023)
Party (Shading indicates majority caucus) |
Total | Vacant | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Republican | |||
End of previous Assembly | 8 | 25 | 33 | 0 |
Begin (January 3, 2023) | 7 | 26 | 33 | 0 |
December 1, 2023 | 25 | 33 | 1 | |
December 6, 2023 | 26 | 33 | 0 | |
Latest voting share | 21.2% | 78.8% |
Leadership

Presiding | ||
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President of the Senate | Matt Huffman | |
President Pro Tempore | Kirk Schuring | |
Majority Leadership | ||
Majority Floor Leader | Rob McColley | |
Majority Whip | Theresa Gavarone | |
Minority Leadership | ||
Minority Leader | Nickie Antonio | |
Assistant Minority Leader | Hearcel Craig | |
Minority Whip | Kent Smith | |
Assistant Minority Whip | Paula Hicks-Hudson |
Other Officers
Clerk: According to the Rules of the Senate, the clerk is elected by the members of the Senate and is tasked with maintaining records of all Senate bills and resolutions. The clerk is also responsible for handling all documents received from other government departments.[2]
Members of the 135th Senate

District | Senator | Party | Residence | Counties represented | Term Limited | First Elected |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Rob McColley | Republican | Napoleon | Auglaize, Defiance, Fulton, Hancock, Hardin, Henry, Paulding, Putnam, Van Wert, Williams | 2026 | 2017* |
2 | Theresa Gavarone | Republican | Bowling Green | Erie, Fulton, Lucas, Ottawa, Wood | 2028 | 2019* |
3 | Michele Reynolds | Republican | Canal Winchester | Franklin | 2030 | 2022 |
4 | George Lang | Republican | West Chester | Butler | 2028 | 2020 |
5 | Steve Huffman | Republican | Tipp City | Darke, Miami, Montgomery, Preble | 2026 | 2018 |
6 | Niraj Antani | Republican | Miamisburg | Montgomery | 2028 | 2020 |
7 | Steve Wilson | Republican | Maineville | Butler, Hamilton, Warren | 2026 | 2017* |
8 | Louis Blessing | Republican | Colerain Township | Hamilton | 2028 | 2019* |
9 | Catherine Ingram | Democratic | Cincinnati | Hamilton | 2030 | 2022 |
10 | Bob Hackett | Republican | London | Clark, Greene, Madison | 2024 | 2016* |
11 | Paula Hicks-Hudson | Democratic | Toledo | Lucas | 2030 | 2022 |
12 | Matt Huffman | Republican | Lima | Allen, Auglaize, Champaign, Darke, Logan, Mercer, Shelby | 2024 | 2016 |
13 | Nathan Manning | Republican | North Ridgeville | Huron, Lorain | 2026 | 2018 |
14 | Terry Johnson | Republican | McDermott | Adams, Brown, Clermont, Lawrence, Scioto | 2028 | 2019* |
15 | Hearcel Craig | Democratic | Columbus | Franklin | 2026 | 2018 |
16 | Stephanie Kunze | Republican | Columbus | Franklin | 2024 | 2016 |
17 | Shane Wilkin | Republican | Jasper Township | Clinton, Fayette, Gallia, Highland, Jackson, Pickaway, Pike, Ross, Lawrence, Vinton | 2030 | 2022 |
18 | Jerry Cirino | Republican | Kirtland | Geauga, Lake, Portage | 2028 | 2020 |
19 | Andrew Brenner | Republican | Powell | Delaware, Franklin, Knox | 2026 | 2018 |
20 | Tim Schaffer | Republican | Lancaster | Athens, Fairfield, Guernsey, Hocking, Morgan, Muskingum, Pickaway | 2028 | 2018* |
21 | Kent Smith | Democratic | Cleveland | Cuyahoga | 2030 | 2022 |
22 | Mark Romanchuk | Republican | Ontario | Ashland, Holmes, Medina, Richland | 2028 | 2020 |
23 | Nickie Antonio | Democratic | Lakewood | Cuyahoga | 2026 | 2018 |
24 | Matt Dolan | Republican | Chagrin Falls | Cuyahoga | 2024 | 2016 |
25 | Bill DeMora | Democratic | Columbus | Franklin | 2030 | 2022 |
26 | Bill Reineke | Republican | Eden Township | Crawford, Marion, Morrow, Sandusky, Seneca, Union, Wyandot | 2028 | 2020 |
27 | Kristina Roegner | Republican | Hudson | Stark, Summit, Wayne | 2026 | 2018 |
28 | Vernon Sykes | Democratic | Akron | Summit | 2024 | 2016 |
29 | Kirk Schuring | Republican | Canton | Stark | 2026 | 2018 |
30 | Brian Chavez | Republican | Marietta | Athens, Belmont, Carroll, Harrison, Jefferson, Meigs, Monroe, Noble, Vinton, Washington | 2032 | 2023* |
31 | Al Landis | Republican | Dover | Coshocton, Holmes, Licking, Perry, Tuscarawas | 2030 | 2022 |
32 | Sandra O'Brien | Republican | Lenox Township | Ashtabula, Geauga, Trumbull | 2028 | 2020 |
33 | Michael Rulli | Republican | Salem | Columbiana, Mahoning | 2026 | 2018 |
- *Senator was originally appointed
Past composition of the Senate
References
- Article II, section 2, Ohio Constitution.
- "Rules of the Senate | The Ohio Legislature". www.legislature.ohio.gov. Retrieved March 9, 2016.
External links
- Ohio Senate official website
- Project Vote Smart – State Senate of Ohio
- Map of Ohio Senate Districts, 2012-2022
- 2012 Election Results from Ohio Secretary of State
- 2010 Election Results from Ohio Secretary of State
- 2008 Election Results from Ohio Secretary of State
- 2006 Election Results from Ohio Secretary of State